In reference to the question, “What conditions can hypnotherapy treat?” it might be easier to say which they CAN’T treat.
This is because a growing body of research in reference to the usefulness of hypnotherapy in healing and helping with certain conditions and personal issues, demonstrates that it is effective for a wide range of conditions in both adults and children.
Many people thinks hypnotherapy is the same as hypnosis, a side-show spectacle that makes people do all sorts of silly things.
The truth is that hypnotherapy is a complementary and alternative medicine treatment (CAM) that is all-natural, with few risks of side effects.
As a CAM, it can be used safely in conjunction with other mainstream medical treatments as well as part of a complete health plan.
Pain Relief
For example, hypnotherapy has been approved since 1995 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for chronic pain relief, such as from the pain of arthritis.Many arthritis pain relief treatments will include over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers, including aspirin, acetaminophen and sometimes opioids (narcotic pain relievers) for severe pain. While these three options are effective, they also have a risk of side effects: gastrointestinal bleeding, liver damage and addiction respectively.
This being the case, any method of pain relief that does not interact with these medicines or carries a risk of similar or worse side effects is worth trying.
Smoking
Many adults have also found hypnotherapy to be supportive in relation to their health goals. For example, a lot of people try many different methods to try to stop smoking cigarettes, but have little or no success. They are not weak of character. Nicotine is a powerful addictive substance the body craves on a regular basis once a person starts to smoke, and withdrawal from it can be a painful process.
If a person has already tried pills, patches and gum and still can’t quit, hypnotherapy can help them move from a smoker to a non-smoker.
Does It Really Work?
For those who are wondering if it really works, when you first go to a hypnotherapist you will state your goal and together you will come up with an treatment plan that includes how many sessions you think you will need, how long they will last, and what length of time you will go – for example twice a week, for an hour, for two months. You will check your progress as you go.
For example, if a person who wants to quit smoking sees the number of cigarettes they smoke decrease, this will show the hypnotherapy is working. If the number goes up, they might need to re-think their treatment plan.
Other conditions that have been helped by hypnotherapy include:
Weight loss
Self-Confidence Issues
- Shyness
- Self-esteem and self-respect
- Trouble dating
Public speaking Concerns
- Giving presentations
- Stage fright
- Fear of unknown social situations such as parties
Stress Relief
Sleep Disorders such as Insomnia
Mood Disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Emotional Issues
- Bad break-up
- Past problems they can’t seem to get past
- Repressed memories that might be holding them back from present success
Doing Better On:
- Exams
- Job interviews
Dealing with Phobias, such as:
- Spiders
- Flying
For Children, Hypnotherapy Has Been Shown to Be Helpful for These Issues:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thumb sucking
- Problems with self-confidence
- Poor concentration
- Acting out
- Nail biting
- Shyness
Now that you know more about the many uses of hypnotherapy, if you are feeling stuck in your life or having trouble dealing with a certain health condition, it might be time to try it and see if it improves your life.
